The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1887-02-11
ODD ALASKANS.
ONE TRIBE OF EsQUIMAUX AS
TALL AS WHITE MEN.
The "Mutes~ and Some of Their
Strange. Customs-Ivory Worn
In the Lips Their Super
stitions and Dress.


Dwelling in that portion of the Terri
tory of Alaska north of the Arctic circle
IS race OF sturdy, docile, but withal in
dependent people These people have
no name as race, but designate them
selves as ''mutes. which literally trans
lated means "a dweller at or upon. For
Instance, a native born at the village on
Point Hope (Tig-erachl is Tigerach-
mute; one born at Point Barrow is a
Noo-wuk mute, and so on, deriving their
Classification from the place of nativity
The popular idea prevails that these
people resemble those living on tie cast
ern shores of the Arctic Ocean and
Greenland, but while on the Greenland
side the stature of the natives Is small,
upon the Alaskan side numerous meas
uTements taken by me of both sexes show
IN average height in the males Of five
feet eight inches and in the females five
feet four inches. There are many men,
and women, too, especially at Point Bar
row and Point Hope, that measure nearly
six feet, and all well proportional. In
their facial characteristics these people
partake of the Mongolian type. Exam
nation of skulls and living persons shows
the high prominent cheek bones, the
ob!ique shaped eye setting, the elongated
nostrils, and straight, coarse black halr
of the Asiatic race. By reason of their
hardy life their limbs arc Of a strong
mold The only inalformation that |
observed among them was tendency in
| the knees and feet to bend inward More
especially is this to. be noticed in the wo-
men, circumstance l attribute TO their
carrying heavy weights upon the lower
portion of the spine, while the uneven
surface of the ground forbids walking in
any level manner Another reason for
this mllfOrmation is the length of time
these people are confined to their boats
when travelling along the coast Through
out the entire Territory of Alaska and
the Aleutian Islands it is very rare to see
a native OF either sex exhibiting perfect
carriage. The Aleuts at the Seal Islands
and 0nalaska, both males and females,
resemble in their walk the waddle of a
duck.
Physically these mutes are very strong,
their powers of endurance are great, and,
as a sequence to the sole aim Of their ex-
istence-i. e. to obtain food-their pow
! eIs Of observation and acuteness in hunt
/ ing, both on land and sea, are strongly
developed. Were it not for the thick
layers OF dirt covering their skin the
/ complexion of these people would be al
moi white Until old age comes on their
] teeth are well shaped and sound: their
eyes of n deep brown hue, bright and
sparkling, and extremely expressive.
Many cases of marked good looks can be
seen among them, while intelligent and
! pleasing manners are general Characters
tics. The family relations existing be-
tween these people are somewhat diff
cult to determine This arises from the
fact that when a man takes a wife he
may retain her as long as he pleases, or
she may leave him and obtain another
! protector. Instances where the woman
never leaves her first protector are rare
The custom Of adoption by purchase or
| gift is another popularity among these
! people. In common with Asiatic tribes
the desire for male offspring is great,
not in any way to perpetuate the family
name, but simply Is a provision against
old age on the parents part. Adoption
| is generally resorted to when the first
wife has no male offspring. Garrulity is
prominent trait among the women, who
are quite on pr with their civilized
sisters in retailing gossip. When a man
desires to become possessed of a girl to
share his fortunes overtures are made to
her parents and herself Should acqui-
eseence be obtained, presents OF skins
and food are made 10 the girls parents
and she becomes his spouse Such emo
lions az loxe, tenderness, or endearment
are unknown; the woman is simply re-
garded as a worker. TO sew and cook.
Upon the least tit of anger uDon his part
cuffs, blows and kicks are showered upon
her, but these do not create much aston
ishment-in the village, simply form ng a
theme of gossip among the old women.
Women do by far the greatest share of
labor. 1t is their lot to drag the seals
over the ice when shot to tramp miles
to fetch deer or other game to the vii
lage; TO cook, to make fires, sew, and re-
pair boats and garments, and attend TO
every matter of household duty. The
noble lord of creation confines himself to
hunting and trapping.
A belief in the presence of evil spirits
constitutes the only religious ideas
among the mutes. There are among them
individuals called Toonrachs, CORE
spending to the shaman of the Siberian
tribes. If person is sick before the
whaling season commences, or a child is
born before going on journey, or build
| Ing house, the services of the shaman
is called into requisitlon. The modus
operandi in every case is very similar.
The shaman, after long spell Of silence,
suddenly begins to roll his eyes, convul-
sive shakes peryade his frame, aud he
pives utterance 10 various groans and
signs intermingled with sentences per-
taining to the subject upon which he IS
engaged. During the time OF his per-
formsnce q continuous beating u on a
drum is kept up. Toward the end par
oxysms. or rather commissions Of exulta-
tons similar to what have been de-
scribed as prevailing at the finale OF a
Shaker meeting, are exhibited by the
shaman. Froth exudes from his mouth,
his eyes lare and roll, and his whole
frame is S5ktorted. Perspiration pours
from his face, and he is entirely ex
hausted. The loud invocations TO the
evil spirits to vacate the body of the sick
person, or to drive them away from the
sea to enable the whales or seals 10 ar
rive. become gradually subdued, dying
away into incoherent mutterings. Then
after while he regiins his composure,
complacentiy smokes his pipe, and re-
ceives his pay for services performed.
II the operation is performed over a sick
person and recovery docs not ensue the
payment made Is returned, a custom that
M ght be advantageously adopted among
civilized persons.
Some curious slperstitions are also 10
be noted. If person is sick, iron tools,
such as axes or knives, cannot be used in
the house. Upon a mans grave his sled
is placed, but broken to pieces, and his
kyack meets similar usage, Furs, spears,
aud rifles arc also deposited, while if the
individual has killed many whales the
long iawbones Of the balfna are placed
in an upright position to mark the spot.
These people burs their dead upon the
ground, raising a uuHber of pieces OF
driftwood in the shape OF tent over the
remains. Owing to this insecure mode
Of burial the wood soon falls down aud
affords entrance to foxes and dogs, who
make havoc with the body. But little
regard is pain to the burial place, al
II.